PTA Mom Accused of Stealing Money

December 7, 2005The former PTA president at Glenn Hills Middle School remains in jail Wednesday night charged with theft by taking, a felony. It’s an investigation that spans back a year ago when money went missing from the association’s pot, money that was supposed to go towards equipment and other expenses for the school.

Monica King, former Glenn Hills Middle PTA President accused of stealing more than $10,000 from the fund.

“It’s more than $10,000 and we suspect it will be as much as $16,000 that’s missing,” said Major Ken Autry, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Richmond County investigators began looking into the matter a year ago.

“We were contacted by some PTA officials concerning an accusation that Ms. King had stolen some money from the PTA,” Autry said.

MaeDella Perry is president of the Richmond-Columbia County Council of PTA’s. She called for an audit last year when the current treasurer found things not adding up in the books.

“That’s really how this came to light when we insisted that the books needed to be audited,” Perry said.

Perry says what they found some checks being cashed with one signature, and others with a forged second signature.

“All of the checks needed to be signed by two people, by the president with the treasurer and/or secretary,” Perry said.

Investigators were still trying to put the missing money case together when on Tuesday, Ms. King reported her purse was stolen at the Augusta Mall. While filing a report at the sheriff’s office, investigators realized Ms. King was being investigated on the missing money case.

“She came down to view some mug shots of potential suspects and after she finished that of course they arrested her,” Autry said.

Perry says parents should still have faith in school PTA’s, especially now that more safeguards are in place.

“We want parents to know that we have, but the safeguards in place that we are working with our officers so that they will know how to protect the money that comes in,” Perry said.

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